Fact Sheet: USAID HIV/AIDS Programs in Mali

21 May 2001

Fact Sheet: USAID HIV/AIDS Programs in Mali

Mali is one of Africa's least affected countries

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) issued a fact sheet May 21 on HIV/AIDS programs in Mali.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will discuss the Bush administration's HIV/AIDS policy and observe efforts to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic during his May 22-28 visit to Mali, South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda.

Following is the text of the fact sheet:

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U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FACT SHEET
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
http://www.usaid.gov
Contact: USAID Press Office
(202) 712-4320

2001-066
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 21, 2001

USAID: HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS IN MALI

Mali is one of the countries least affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

-- Mali has an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of about 2 percent. An estimated 97,000 adults were living with HIV/AIDS.

-- In the capital city of Bamako, the HIV prevalence rate among women attending antenatal clinics increased from 1 percent in 1987 to 4 percent in 1994.

-- At the end of 1999, HIV/AIDS had orphaned an estimated 45,000 children.

-- Life expectancy with AIDS for males is 47 years and for females is 48 years. Only six countries have a lower life expectancy than Mali.

-- In addition, one out of every five children will die before age five. Young women, in particular, are vulnerable because of early sexual activity. By age 16, 50 percent of girls in Mali are either married or sexually active.

The U.S. Agency for International Development will spend $3.2 million for HIV/AIDS programs in Mali.

Prevention: USAID/Mali's Young Adult Reproductive Health Services HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Control Program is designed to improve prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections through behavior change, communication, condom distribution and case management.

Outreach: Non-formal sector outreach programs address peer counseling, youth centers, and school-based service delivery.

Research: Operations research is being conducted to assess the efficacy of interventions. USAID supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to institutionalize the treatment of sexually transmitted infections in the public and private sectors.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is the U.S. government agency that provides development and humanitarian assistance worldwide.

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